Vietnamese authorities said Tuesday they will fine
German carmaker Volkswagen after the company admitted displaying cars
at a Vietnam motor show that included a controversial map showing
Beijing's competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.
A statement released by the General Department of Vietnam Customs
said that Volkswagen Vietnam will face a fine of between 860 and 1724
dollars.
World Auto Company, which was responsible for importing the car for
the event, also faces a ban on operations for between six and nine
months.
The fine comes after Volkswagen Vietnam borrowed two Touareg SUVs
from a Chinese partner for a motor show, which took place in Ho Chi
Minh City from October 23-27. Volkswagen said they knew about the map
and tried to block the app in the cars, but some visitors were still
able to access it.
Several countries across South-East Asia are making competing
sovereignty claims to parts of the South China Sea where oil and gas
exploration is a highly fraught issue in both China and Vietnam.
The so-called "nine-dash line" is used by China to demarcate about 80
per cent of the South China Sea, was removed from navigation apps
last month by a Vietnamese distributor of Chinese cars in northern
Vietnam.
Also last month, Vietnam removed the DreamWorks animated film
"Abominable" from cinemas after a scene emerged showing the
controversial map.
Volkswagen said they knew about the map and tried to block the app in the cars, but some visitors were still able to access it.
